Superior Court Briefs: September 22 - September 29

Staff Reports04:31PM / Friday September 30, 2011

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, September 22

Michael Pahl, 24, of Bristol, Conn. had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of breaking and entering in the nighttime, two counts of malicious destruction of personal property over $250 and a single count of larceny in a building.

Pahl was released on personal recognizance. It is alleged that Pahl broke in to two homes in Becket between November 23, 2010 and December 8, 2010.

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, September 27

Robert Whipple, 44, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to two counts of dissemination of visual material of a child in a state of nudity or sexual conduct and 19 counts of knowingly possessing visual material of a child depicted in sexual conduct.

Whipple was sentenced to one to two years at the Berkshire County House of Correction on two counts of dissemination of visual material of a child in a state of nudity or sexual conduct and 18 counts of knowingly possessing visual material of a child depicted in sexual conduct.

Whipple was placed on three years probation on the remaining possession charge. During the probation period he must undergo counseling, forfeit all computer equipment and can not own a phone or device capable of accessing the internet.

Whipple had child pornography on his home computer between December 3, 2005 and June 12, 2009.

Kevin Karch, 47, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to 40 counts of possession of visual material of a child depicted in sexual conduct.

He was sentenced to concurrent two to five years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on 39 of the counts. He was placed on three years probation on the other charge. During the probation period he must undergo counseling, forfeit all computer equipment and can not own a phone or device capable of accessing the internet.

Karch had images on his home computer in July, 2009 and February, 2010.

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, September 29

Jon Gilmore, 21, of Pittsfield was found guilty by a jury on two counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon and single counts of illegal possession of a firearm and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling.

He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without bail pending sentencing on Oct. 3.

Gilmore attempted to assault a 22-year-old man in Pittsfield on August 16, 2009.

Gilmore was found not guilty on a single count of armed assault with intent to murder.

Alleged Thieves Plead Not-guilty in Court

Andy McKeever03:00PM / Friday August 19, 2011

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A city man accused of armed robbery of La Fogata Restaurant and a Becket man accused of a series of break-ins both entered not guilty pleas in Berkshire Superior Court on Friday.

Michael Swenson III, 19, of Tyler street had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on one count of armed robbery while masked and two counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon. He ordered to be help on $50,000 bail.

Swenson allegedly covered his face with a bandana and robbed the restaurant shortly after it closed last weekend with what was described as a black handgun. However, other reports stated that the gun that was used was a pellet gun.

Michael Pieri, 25, of Becket entered not guilty pleas in Berkshire Superior Court on an array of charges.

Pieri is charged with 15 counts of breaking and entering in the nighttime, six counts of larceny over $250, 15 counts of malicious destruction of personal property over $250, eight counts of larceny in a building, four counts of receiving stolen property over $250, and single counts of illegal ownership of a firearm, possession of ammunition with a firearm identification card, improper storage of a firearm and common and notorious thief.

Judge Daniel Ford released Pieri on personal recognizance.

The charges stem from a spree of house break-ins in Becket between November 23, 2010 and July 11, 2011.

Structure Fire in Becket

Staff Reports04:21PM / Monday February 28, 2011

BECKET, Mass. — Firefighters are responding to a fully involved structure fire on Minstrels Way in Sherwood Forest. The report of a fire came in at about 3:30 p.m.

Smoke is pouring from the building and the Fire Department is calling for more equipment and manpower.

A tanker and engine have been requested from Otis Fire Department and Hinsdale is standing by in the station. An ambulance has also been called to the scene and an incident command team activated. Chester has also sent men and equipment.

Complicating matters are reports of a 600-pound propane tank at the back of the building.

Becket Motorcycle Accident Kills One

Lorenza Bernasconi-Galli was operating a 2007 Honda BTM, three-wheeled motorcycle west on the Massachusetts Turnpike when she drifted into the breakdown lane and struck the guard rail, according to state police from the Westfield barracks.

The trike and rider continued west for 188 feet before the rider was ejected. Bernasconi-Galli was fatally injured in the crash and pronounced dead at the scene.

The accident occurred at about 3:27 p.m. at mile marker 16.8 in Becket. Two other bikers were traveling with the victim but were unhurt.

The far right travel lane and breakdown lane were closed for approximately three hours during the investigation. No traffic delays were reported.

The facts and circumstances of the crash remain under investigation by Troop E with the assistance of troopers assigned to the Crash Analysis and Reconstruction Section and the Crime Scene Services Section. Troopers were assisted at the scene by the Department of Transportation Highway Division.

Woman Pleads Guilty in Fatal Accident

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — An East Longmeadow woman was sentenced on Monday afternoon in Berkshire Superior Court to prison for her role in a drunken-driving accident two years ago that killed a Becket man.

Catherine A. Rivet, 30, of Parker Street, pleaded guilty to single countes of motor vehicle homicide while under the influence of alcohol and operating to endanger, failure to stay in marked lanes, speeding and possession of marijuana.

Thomas A. Sacchetti Jr., 42, of Prince John Drive, was a passenger in Rivet's 1997 Ford Contour in the early morning hours of Oct. 11, 2008. She was driving at a high rate of speed along Route 20 near the Chester line when she lost control and flipped her car. Sacchetti was pronounced dead at the scene.

Judge John A. Agostini ordered Rivet to serve three to five years in the Massachusetts Correctional Institute at Framingham on the motor vehicle homicide charge, to be served concurrently with six months in House of Correction on the possession charge. She was found responsble for the two traffic charges.

The investigation was conducted by members of the Becket Police Department and accident reconstruction specialists assigned to the Massachusetts State Police.